dirimens copulatio

Meaning

A rhetorical device that mentions a positive or concessionary point, immediately followed by a counter-argument that negates or diminishes the force of that initial point.

Examples

• The lawyer used a dirimens copulatio to acknowledge the witness's honesty before pointing out the critical flaws in their testimony.
• By employing a dirimens copulatio, the speaker validated the audience's concerns while simultaneously explaining why their suggested solution was impractical.